Seton Hall Receives $500,000 Gift from Stillman School Alumnus Stephen Lovelette, M.B.A. ’85

Seton Hall is pleased to announce a generous $500,000 gift from alumnus Stephen Lovelette, M.B.A. '85, in support of For All, Forever, the University's $225 million comprehensive campaign. A longtime supporter of Seton Hall, Lovelette has directed his gift toward several initiatives close to his heart. In addition to strengthening the Stillman School of Business and advancing the University's Catholic mission, his gift will ensure the long-term sustainability of his previously established endowed scholarship, which supports undergraduate students, with preference for those studying in the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.

Lovelette's relationship with Seton Hall began in the early 1980s, when he moved to New Jersey for a role at Midlantic National Bank. Hoping to advance his career, he used the bank's tuition reimbursement program to pursue an M.B.A. in finance at Seton Hall, an experience he says opened doors both personally and professionally.

His engagement with Seton Hall deepened after a series of career moves led him to Chicago in 1989. There, he connected with a fellow alumnus who was forming a Midwest alumni network. "It helped reignite my relationship with the University," he explains. "I started doing alumni telethons and built relationships with former deans Karen Boroff and Jack Shannon, and current dean Joyce Strawser. We became good friends, so I stayed involved and tried to give when I could."

Lovelette says he's not just giving back. "I'm playing a part in something I feel is very important," he explains. Raised in the Catholic Church, he believes that universities like Seton Hall play a formative role in shaping young people and strengthening society. "Seton Hall offers the spirit of the Church and a sense of camaraderie among the student body. It has grown over the years and become a beautiful community, not just a place where you go to get your degree and then move on."

He has previously contributed to the University's Catholic mission through the donation of a Marian mosaic outside the University Center, which serves as the heart of a quiet prayer garden for reflection and contemplation. "I'm proud of our Catholic identity. I like that you see priests walking around campus; they're readily available to interact with students," he says. "I try to get my own parish to be more like this. Our religious brothers and sisters should be accessible."

Monsignor Joseph Reilly, President of Seton Hall University, notes that gifts like Lovelette's help sustain this mission. "Stephen’s Catholic faith and support strengthen the foundation on which Seton Hall was built 170 years ago and helps us write the next inspiring chapter of the Seton Hall story."

Lovelette's gift will also strengthen his alma mater, the Stillman School of Business. Stillman is committed to giving students the tools to succeed, including rigorous academics, hands-on learning, and opportunities to grow as leaders. Through For All, Forever, the School plans to expand internships, study abroad, and research experiences that help students connect classroom theory to real-world practice.

"Steve's support comes at a pivotal moment for the Stillman School," says Joyce Strawser, Dean of the Stillman School of Business. "We're expanding high-impact learning experiences so our students graduate ready to make an impact in the workforce on day one. His gift will open doors for students and help our School continue to innovate in how we educate future leaders."

Through his gift, Lovelette is signaling his trust in Seton Hall's future. "I want to see it grow its endowment so it can continue to uplift generations of students, just as it once supported me," he says. "I want it to be attractive to students as well as top-tier professors. They should be excited when they see an opening at Seton Hall."

With gifts like Lovelette's and the momentum of the For All, Forever campaign, Seton Hall is strengthening the foundation for its next chapter. "Seton Hall is a special place," he concludes.